10 Footballers Who Had Run-Ins With The Law For Tax Fraud

Jan.23, 2019 - 09:04 pm

By Marshall Gouts

With Cristiano Ronaldo recently being handed a two-year suspended prison sentence for tax fraud, here are a number of other stars who have been investigated for tax evasion, including Africa's most decorated player ever.

Tired of reading? Click through the gallery above to see 10 players who were the subject of investigations for tax fraud.

The former Manchester United and Los Blancos star pleaded guilty to tax fraud to the value of €14.7 million (R232 million) in relation to image rights between 2011 and 2014.

As a result, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence for his transgressions.

Incidents of tax evasion among footballers is not an uncommon act, with several high-profile players having previously been under investigation for similar incidents to Ronaldo's.

Africa's most decorated player ever Samuel Eto'o forms part of this infamous group of footballers for a host of alleged tax crimes he was said to be involved in during his time with Barcelona in Spain.

United's Paul Pogba completed a then world-record move from Serie A side Juventus to the Red Devils in 2016. However, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, who is represented by arguably the world's most influential agent in Mino Raiola, is also believed to have hidden some of his earnings away in an offshore account.

The world's most expensive player ever Neymar was the subject of widespread speculation and investigation when he sealed a mega-move from boyhood outfit Santos to Barcelona in 2013.

In one of the most-talked-about transfers of the century, Neymar was subsequently charged with tax evasion after he was reportedly caught swindling large amounts of cash to a Brazilian company controlled by his father.

What do you consider to be a suitable punishment for footballers who purposely evade tax? Let us know in the comments section below.